In Brief
This case consolidates multiple appeals concerning procedural time limits under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The Supreme Court clarified that District Consumer Forums cannot extend the response-filing period beyond the statutory 15-day extension (after an initial 30 days). The 30-day period begins when the opposite party receives both the notice and a copy of the complaint, not the notice alone. Objections about non-receipt of the complaint must be raised at the first hearing; raising them later would undermine the Act's goal of swift, simple dispute resolution. The judgment applies prospectively.
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